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Gail Hair, one of my friends with GPA/OK, wrote this week's story. Her story about Martin and his bizarre behavior is truly worth reading. So enjoy!
I have had Martin for two years. When he first came to live with us he was a real spook and was afraid of almost everything. He hid behind furniture, and his head was always held down like it hurt to look at you or anything else. We couldn't walk into a room without him looking for what he thought was a safe place. We knew Martin had not been mistreated, because we knew what breeders he came from and these breeders truly love each of their dogs and are always sad to see them leave. Also, since he had never raced we knew nothing bad had happened at the track. So I knew when he came to us he was just shy. It took about eight months before he became a regular dog and loved living in a house with all the privileges of being a well-fed couch potato. Since I used to work for the school system, I was able to be with the dogs all summer and for long breaks at a time throughout the year. This summer I had noticed certain changes starting to take place with Martin. He was starting to look for safe places again. He was putting on weight without any increase in his food. His coat, which used to be a very shiny black and white, was now flaky and dull, and his muzzle was starting to gray at age two. I thought this must be his summer coat and the dry skin was due to summer temperatures. At some point in one of our conversations, Cheryl(the president of our OK chapter of GPA) told me that Fred, Martin's brother, had been tested for hypothyroidism and was on medication. I put it in the back of my mind and never gave it another thought. Summer ended and I returned to work. I started having trouble with Martin about that time. He developed a severe case of separation anxiety. I never knew what havoc would greet me when I returned home. He was always destroying things. He also was starting fights with Al, who was very much the top dog and a very fair leader. But, since Martin was always stepping over his place, Al's corrections became more severe and I was at the vet often.
The copyright of the article Martin, A Hypothyroid Dog in Greyhounds is owned by Judy A Tomlinson. Permission to republish Martin, A Hypothyroid Dog in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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